From: ABS-CBN

Valenzuela 2nd District Councilor Shalani Soledad has opened up about her more than a year relationship with winning presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Soledad, 30, was interviewed exclusively by Noynoy’s youngest sister, Kris. During the interview, she shared details about their first meeting as well as her thoughts on her 50-year-old boyfriend’s remarks that marriage is not his priority right now.

The interview was aired on “The Buzz” Sunday.

Below is Kris’s full interview with Soledad.

Kris (K): Umpisahan natin from the very, very beginning. April 27, 1980, ‘yon ang birthday mo. Ano ang type of family ‘yong nakagisnan mo?

Shalani (S): Close ako sa mga relatives ko. Uncle ko, tita ko, cousins ko and lalo na sa brother ko.

K: How many years older sa’yo ang brother mo?
S: Three years. I’m the youngest. Dalawa lang kami.

K: Nabanggit mo lahat ng mga relatives, hindi mo na-mention ang mommy mo.
S: Because was my mom was working abroad for almost 20 years. Tapos once a year lang siya umuuwi like 2 months.

K: Saan siya nagwo-work?
S: ‘Yong last ni mommy was in Kuwait.

K: Middle East.
S: Yes.

K: Naka-ilang years siya doon?
S: Sa Middle East, almost 20 years.

K: So, sino ang nag-alaga talaga sa iyo?
S: Lolo and lola ko sa mother side ko.

K: You can choose to answer this or not pero saan ‘yong father along the way?
S: Hiwalay kasi sila ng mommy ko. Since I was small, hiwalay na sila.

K: Did you know him at least or did you have a relationship?
S: There was really no relationship but yes, I know him. Kasi magkaaway sila ng mommy ko.

K: Were you a good student?
S: Average. I was not on the top.

K: Anong hilig mo? Like high school, doon ka magjo-join ng kung anu-anong mga club, groups?
S: My club was religious club. (Laughs). Kami ‘yong taga-dasal, actually. Praying plus teaching the younger class ng mga Bible stories. And drama club, actually.

K: Punta na tayo sa college.
S: College, I took up human resource management at CSE. I still have my PE class, actually.

K: Bakit hindi mo ginawa ang PE?
S: Because I ran for councilor already so naiwan. Hindi ko na nabalikan.

Public service

K: Saan nanggaling ang hilig sa pulitika?
S: I guess, it’s my love for people. Kasi ‘yong mom ko lahat sila into government service pero walang elective post. Ako ‘yong first sa family namin to have an elective post.

K: Why did you feel na ito ‘yong tamang landas na tahakin mo?
S: Dito ko naramdaman ‘yong sinasabi nilang fulfillment. Meron pala ‘yon. Dati akala ko showbiz at cliche pag sinasabi na may sense of fulfillment… Kasi in spite of hirap, ‘yong pagod, kapag nakikita mong nakakatulong ka and people appreciate that; pag nag-tha-thank you sa’yo, ang sarap sarap ng feeling.

K: You did work for Senator Lacson?
S: During 2002-2003.

K: Was he a senator then? Pero hindi pa kayo nagtagpo ng landas ni Noy kasi 2007 siya na-elect na senator?
S: Yes.

Love story

Noynoy and Shalani

K: Ito na ang gustong marinig ng lahat, paano ba kayo nag-meet?
S: ‘Yong first was during 2005. I was then with UNTelevision. I was covering 2005 SONA. Reporter. We did that interview with Noy. My question was it was not something about the SONA, it was something about you. So, ang sabi ni Noy, ‘My sister is old enough to answer those questions.’

K: Pero kailan kayo nagkakilala ulit?
S: 2008. Alfredo’s. Kasama ko ang vice mayor ko and then at the same time nandoon din sina Noy and then afterwards nagpa-picture kami kay Noy.

K: And then?
S: Sabi ni Noy, ‘I am the chair of the local government committee. Baka mayroon kayong amendments na you would want to introduce. Let me know.’

K: Binigay niya ‘yong number niya sa’yo?
S: Hindi, kinuha nila ang numbers namin. Across Alfredo’s, merong coffee house so nauna sina Noy. So after a few minutes, nag-ring ‘yong phone ng vice mayor namin, ini-invite daw kami ni Noy mag-coffee. (Laughs)

K: I’m sure hindi naman si vice mayor ang gusto niyang maka-kape. Tapos?
S: That time, nag-cross kami. When we got there, nandoon ‘yong staff niya.

K: And you realize now that Noy doesn’t even drink coffee?
S: Yes.

K: Tumabi ka naman sa kanya?
S: No, we were seated across and then kinukwento niya na 20 years ago na mayroong coup tapos 3 of his PSGs were gunned down. Sabi niya it’s a miracle na nabuhay daw siya. So, sabi ko naman sa kanya na, “Senator, baka hindi mo pa talaga time.’ Ang sabi niya, ‘Oo nga, dahil 20 years after makikilala pala kita.’

K: Kadiri ha, Noy. Gross. (Laughs). Hindi ko kaya! I thought I was the baduy one in the family. Kinabog ako ni Noy sa linyang ‘yon. Do you remember what day it was? ‘Yong exact date?
S: Yes. July 28.

K: Ano ‘yong first date ninyo? Alam ko nanood kayo ng movie ni KC (Concepcion) at ni Richard Gutierrez? For the First Time?
S: Yes.
K: Movie ko na nga sapilitan pang manood ‘yon. So, sinamahan ka niyang manood?
S: Oo. Pero first and last na daw ‘yon.

K: May anniversary ba kayo?
S: Yes. Sept. 5, [2008].

K: What were the signs na ito na, this is it?
S: Kinikilig ako. With Noy, from previous relationships, parang na-realize mo na kung ano ang gusto mo. And you would want someone na honest sa’yo, ‘yong totoo, ‘yong hindi ka binobola lang.

K: One year, 8 months na kayo. Matagal na ‘yon ha for Noy. (Laughs).

Meeting the family

K: Anong na-feel mo noong una mo kaming nakilala?
S: Si Noy afterwards, tinatanong niya ako, ‘So, how was it?’ Ang tinatanong niya more on sa mommy ninyo. So, sabi ko, ‘Noy, actually na-starstruck ako hindi sa mommy mo, kay Kris.’ So, tawa lang siya ng tawa.

K: Kailan bago mo siya pinakilala sa mommy mo?
S: Si Noy kasi nanliligaw pumupunta siya sa bahay.

K: Hindi ba nag-alangan ang mommy mo na halos ka-edad niya si Noy?
S: Ang apprehension ng mommy ko was… sinasabi niya sa akin ‘to na, ‘Anak, senator yan nakakasama ninyo.’ Kasi baka we seemed to forget daw na dahil nakakasama namin si Noy, almost every night kasama naming mag-dinner out. Sabi ng mom ko, ‘Anak, hindi tayo mayaman. Baka hanapan ka or singilin ka.’ Baka daw api-apihin ako. Sabi ng mommy ko.

K: Me?
S: No naman. Sabi ng mom ko, ‘You know, Noy being an Aquino. Very prominent ang family.’

K: I hate to bring this up because it means I know too much but noong time na medyo my mom was nearly dying na, I think you went through a rocky point of your relationship. Tama ba ako? Nahirapan ka bang ilagay ang sarili mo kung saan ka dapat ilalagay?
S: In a way. Because siyempre alam ko na masakit kay Noy. At the same time, I wanted to be there for him pero…

K: Paano mo titimbangin kung saan ka lu-lugar?
S:Yes.

K: Para at least finally na-tackle at alam na ng buong mundo. Di ba kaya ako nagalit sa’yo kasi dinedma mo si Noy? The way I heard the story parang 8 hours siyang nagtext at nag-miss call tapos parang ang tagal bago ka naka-reply.
S: No. Walang 8 hours. Matagal na siguro 1 hour and a half pero wala namang 8 hours.

K: Pero do you also realize na he’s also the type na minsan ite-text mo and then 14 hours or 24 hours ang sagot?
S: Si Noy?
K: Oo, sa akin. Sa’yo, hindi naman?
S: Nagre-reply.
K: Iba ang girlfriend, iba ang sister.

Deep commitment

K: Doon na tayo sa nag-iba na. Yong tumakbo sa presidency that’s why sinabi ko ‘yon sa The Buzz. Sinabi ko na appreciative kami kasi marami kang napuntahan na mismo kami hindi na namin napuntahan at nagawa sa kanya. Kung tatanungin kita, why did you do it?
S: I believe in him, No. 1. And second I wanted to be of help also to Noy.

K: Pero, thoughtful naman siya as far as being a boyfriend is concerned?
S: Thoughtful si Noy in a sense na sa birthdays, special occassions at kung ano ang nagiging need mo, ina-anticipate na niya.

K: Anong stage na kayo sa relationship ninyo?
S: It’s a deep commitment pero at this point kasi parang napakalaki noong task na haharapin ni Noy. So, ang focus talaga should be on the task ahead of him kasi ang hirap.

K: Tatanunging kita, 30 ka ngayon. Are you ready to wait 6 years?
S: I hope.

K: Kasi ilang times na inulit na ni Noy na within his term na parang hindi niya nakikita na he would be settling down. Na-hurt ka ba noong narinig mo ‘yon?
S: In a way. Siyempre ako I’m looking forward kasi when you’re in a relationship you’re looking forward long term. Since mahal mo you would support what he wants and what he needs.

K: Hindi mo naisip ‘yon na baka sa kakahintay mo, hindi kayo magka-baby, hindi kayo magka-family nang sa inyo?
S: Ako kasi I just pray. Kasi when you are in a relationship you just hope na it would be better. Siyempre, long term, di ba? Let’s see. Kasi hangga’t mahal mo ang tao, maghihintay ka.

Cool-off?

K: May nag-tweet sa amin sa SNN so kailangan kong tanungin ito. Totoo bang nag-cool off si Shalani at si president Noy
S: No.

K: Pag nagtatampuhan, may moments na walang pansinan?
S: Meron.

K: Ilang days ‘yon?
S: Pinakamatagal, 3-4 days.

K: Sinong nagma-make ng move, siya o ikaw? O take turns?

S: Take turns.

K: The last tampuhan, who made the first move?
S: Ako, kasi kasalanan ko.

K: Mabilis mong makuha ang lambing? Pagmagso-sorry, hindi naman pakipot?
S: Si Noy kasi may mood siya na very sweet, may mood din siya na medyo mataray. Like one time, this was during the campaign, I called him up then he answered sabi niya, ‘Why?’ Sabi ko, ‘Wala naman Noy, nami-miss lang kita.’ Sabi ni Noy, ‘You called me just to tell me that? I’m in a middle of conversation here.’ Yan, ganyan siya. (Laughs)

K: Hurt-hurt-an ka doon.
S: Opo.

For the First Time

K: May love song ba kayo?
S: For the First Time.

K: Anong pwede mong sabihin kay Noy na pwede mong i-share sa buong Pilipinas?
S: Congratulations, of course. And whatever happens siguro, it’s a very hard time siguro right now because ang daming magiging adjustments. Both sa relationship natin or relationships mo with your family and other people. Nandito lang ako. I hope you really, really appreciate how much people love you. And siyempre kay Noy, super love kita.

K: Nagi-I love you ka ba on the daily basis?
S: Not everyday.

K: Sa text?
S: Yes.

K: Ano ‘yong sa text? Love yah? (Laughs)
S: Complete na I love you with smiley.

Part1

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Part 2

1st part
2nd part

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reynz is one Uragon and a Filipino-American, has many years of public accounting & auditing, broadcast investments, housing tax credits and equity investments as his background. Based in the US, he maintains his personal and humor blog at reyna elena dot com. A graduate of Aquinas U, he went to GWU and Temple U in the United States.